Ethics & Religion

Protestant ethics

• Rationality (elimination of magic from decision making)

◦ Christianity
▪ Charity, compassion, NGOs, forgiveness.
◦ work ethics
◦ utilitarian phil
◦ efficiency in business
• input and output relation
• Hinduism
◦ Vedas – How lead good life and be good human
◦ Upanishads -- good human – stya meva jayate
◦ Maha Bharata – “Don’t do unto others as you wont be done by” -- Ethics, truth
◦ Ramayana – Truth + ethics +
◦ Gita – Nishkam Karama
◦ Peace loving, aditi devo bhava, vasu dev kutumbakam , universal brotherhood, plural,
inclusive.
• Jainism
◦ right faith
◦ right knowledge
◦ right conduct
• Buddhism
◦ give up desire.
◦ Middle path. Madhya marga
◦ reality of life.
◦ Love, compassion, social ethics.
• Islam
◦ Equality.
• Core values of religion can also be ethical principles. Ethics and religion both aim for
improving behaviour of human by discipline. All religion have sense of right and wrong.
They may have some prescriptions which may not be relevant or problematic today. But at
same time they carry many +ve ideas which are equally relevant or considered as important
 ethical principles. Ethics can be considered as standard of Human Behaviour (HB), it means
if people are religious they can aslo be ethical. Hence religion is imp source of ethics.
Difference is that religion is based on ethics and it is based on liberation of soul. But ethics
is based on mind, which emphasis on liberation of mind means wisdom and enlightenment.
• Many leaders who have talked of religion have also talked of ethics.
◦ Buddha on social ethics.
◦ Vivekananda on humanism and rationality.
◦ Gandhi was religious and ethical who promoted Satyagraha (adherence to truth).
• Ethics –> mind
• religion --> soul.
Why Conflict in religion?
• Misinterpretation.
• Insecurity.
◦ Want to protect God
▪ Sabrimala, Pork or beef as prasad. (purity or sudha)
▪ Ram temple, cow protection.
• superiority of religion.
• Politicisation __ Hanuman which caste.

Conflict between Ethics and religion.

• Even if religion has profound influence on ethics still there are conflicts.
• Today religion has become reason for many social conflicts, violence.
◦ Ex spread of terrorism, communal riots.
• Peace and harmony have suffered. In such situation not only religious people are associated
but also educated people which manifest in following
◦ lack of emotional intelligence.
◦ Lack of rationality.
• People have not undergone behavioural changes and they have narrow perspective of
religion in life. Issues related with mod lynching, protection of cow, idol worship.
• psychological analysis Mob lynchers
◦ Ego superiority
◦ revenge attitude.
◦ An attitude to teach lessons.
◦ Show cultural superiority.
 • Rajiv Bhargva has analysed psychology of mob lynchers. In such conflicting situation it is
difficult to conclude or take a stand whether religion or ethics should be give priority. What
ever is the issue following principle should guide decision making:
◦ selflessness – compassion
◦ decision should not be imposed – voluntarism.
◦ Forgiveness.
◦ Objectivity and fairness.
◦ Rule of law.
◦ Equality, Justice.
• In nut shell conflict happen due to loss of self respect and dignity (humiliation) which are
considered most essential human values. And if it is lost human thinks that everything is lost
and that human will be ready for any course of action like suicide, revenge or constructive
path revenge by success or violent path etc.
• After recent mob lynching not necessarily linked to cow but with other caste religion. Ragiv
Bhargava a value of forgiveness that society should teach art of forgiveness not revenge.
•
{{Clash of civilisation __ all over world religion is becoming dominant.
◦ Sikh riots etc.
• {Values are lost in society then both victim and victimizer are effected.}
• {Fight naxal or Terror by -ve (police ans stick) and also +ve way ( development).
• 1st culture born then religion.}}
 Ethics & Social Norms

• Social Norms (SN) are unwritten in formal standard of Human Behaviour (HB) supported
by society on the basis of custom, tradition, culture. People belonging to that society even
from outside are expected to follow SN for social acceptance.

◦ Ex one of SN in India is respecting elders, bowing to them, touching feet vs handshake

with elders is not SN.

◦ Greeting in west kissing on cheeks and hugging even women and men but India it is not
allowed.

◦ Men holding hands and walking India common but in west it is Gay

• In general SN will differ society to society. Some common SN can work as universal values.

◦ Ex respecting elders, human dignity, fairness, honesty.

• SN will promote good behaviour, some of them can become Ethical principle. Most of SN
will not conform to ethical std. People will have many eating behaviour, they follow
different forms of etiquette and social behaviour. There is emphasis on healthy diets that can
be one universal principle. What contain in healthy diet may differ.

• Ethics and SN have same relation as ethics and religion., ethics & law. It means they will
have conflict.

◦ Ex inter caste marriage, dowry, honour killing.

◦ As family thinks that inter caste marriage is against SN. Even Khap panhcyat thinks that
boys and girls in a village are brother and sister, so marriage should happen out side
village. In one case it force couple to live as brother and sister.

• Such conflict happen to changes in society, people have accepted or rejected SN. Role of SC
has been instrumental to bring change in SN which has become less acceptable in today
society which are not acceptable as per constitution morality.

◦ Rights of LGBT, gender, domestic violence, widows old age, children. SC has
intervened and given protection. Ex recognise live in as marriage.

◦ Its Vishaka guidelines is monumental with social space in work.

QN : Discuss relation between ethics and SN and analysed role of SC in promoting Social reforms.
 Ethics and Values
• Values are standards of behaviour, they are moral standards. These can be

◦ individual, society, organisation,

◦ institution __ civil service conduct, medical ethics,

◦ universal __ peace, non violence, truth, fairness, honesty, dignity.

◦ Human values __ love & feelings valla vachevi.

QN

What are your individual values, where did you use them give with example?

{ (write about Gate exam copy, respecting elders, compassion yogita ki 5 rupess evadam
valla i got a good friend and great help like mom ki blood, encouraging sumana in time of crisis
with money and GRE exam because she is bright student.)

• Values __ strong and core Vs Weak + peripheral values.

• Indian core values __secular, plural, peace loving, inclusive, respecting.

• Core values are beyond time and space. Core value change ki need strong humiliation or
strong enlightenment.

• Values are basis of morality, ethics __ HB are based on values mostly.}

• values can be categorised in many ways as they are common to humans, organisation,
institution. Where ever we can find human we can find values and certain standard of
behaviour. They are categorised are core/strong, peripheral/weak, public/individual.

• The basis of individual behaviour is values held by that individual ie values guide HB. All
individual have do and do’nt in their mind and also core values, which they adhere in day
today life. They are stable. Weak peripheral values keep changing which are unstable.
Values related to life style can be peripheral. Values related to aims and objectives of life can
be strong, core.

• Core values can also change in rare circumstance due to following 3 factors

1. knowledge/ enlightenment.

2. Major accident or incident.

3. Success or failure or extreme humiliation.

 • Human -- _> Self (values) (possess)who am I – _> character (by cultivated/building)–_>
behaviour or conduct.

• Values are required on the basis of socialisation process which result in build of character.
When a person adhere to good values he builds good character. Character is consider
important quality or virtue.

MK Gandhi said “If wealth is lost nothing is lost if health is lost something is lost and if character
is lost everything is lost.” comment.

• 3 parts wealth, health, character 3 para and conlusin. Ex MJ Akbar, sports perosns doping
charges, Corruption DMK, Apple Steve job recovered from nothing and also Amitab.

• On civil services day on 2014 PM also remarked that character is most important virtue of
CS. Once there is strong character it is presumed that person has good behaviour. So values
and behaviour has strong interrelation.

Relation between Values, Ethics and Morality.

• Since values define self of an individual it become basis of human behaviour. Morality and
ethics are based on values of individual. In case of morality it is individual values in case of
ethics it is the universal values of individual. Therefore values become common to morality
and ethics.

• In DoPT manual on Values in administration ethics is defines as “evaluation of values”.

Since all values are not universal they differ person to person, ethics and values will have
same relation.

• It can be said that ethics takes into

consideration the established standard
of law, morality, social norms and
values. They have overlapping relation
in which they influence each other.
Ethics is not only law nor social norms.
 Ethical Theories

Agent theories Action theories

Emphasis on agent’s character Emphasis on Agent’s action – Behaviour
Socrates, Aristotle, Plato. Deontology __ Kant Teleology – consequence
Utilitarian Contrarianism
Bentham, Mill Hobbes, Locke,
John Rawls
Theory of Justice

Agent theories or Virtue Ethics

• Origin by Socrates

• Follow by Plato.

• Innovated and propounded by Aristotle.

• Aristotle views on ethics on

◦ 1.) individual 2.) society 3.)government.

• Weakness and conclusion.

Dealing with 2 questions

• How we ought to live.

◦ Live with Critical thinking (CT) + Reasoning, L,E,J.

• How we know that how we ought to live – good or bad.

◦ By human reasoning.

◦ By pursuing human happiness.

◦ Doctrine of Golden Mean.

• They argue that aim of Human life is happiness. This happiness is related with achieving
wisdom not physical pleasure. Means and Ends relation in human life. They are emphasised
on ends they are also considered early teleological thinkers. This concept of mean i.e how
to achieve happiness is not born in one day but started with Socrates, ultimately propounded
by Aristotle as “Virtue ethics”.
 • Socrates was originator of Ethics for 1st time he say that Humans should live life by
questioning things he is surrounded by. On the basis of rationality humans should accept or
reject things. He propounded the concept of ‘Art of questioning’. This questioning based on
reasoning, rationality, respecting not only one’s own freedom and liberty for reasoning and
rational thinking but also others. This reasoning should be based on knowledge and
understanding. So Socrates remarked “An unexamined life is not worth living”. He himself
is a critical thinker. He had followers as disciples. But his thinking was not liked by rulers so
he was ordered to be executed if he hadn’t left territory by morning. His execution teaches
following principles:

◦ Courage

◦ Liberty, equality, freedom.

◦ Social Contract

• these principles were followed by Plato and Aristotle == Virtue Ethics.

• Questioning is dangerous but is needed __ Socrates, Galileo

• East more superstition bc more on faith and religion and no CT. Vs west more CT
Renaissance.

• Plato is follower of Socrates he propagated reasoning and rationality by propounding

principles like J, Courage, temperance as basis for quality for human conduct. Human
conduct should have fairness based on objective criteria. Human should show fearlessness,
should control emotions. He is also founder of virtue ethics, approach was utopian and ideal
and criticised by Aristotle. As Plato suggested that “How we live our lives good/bad should
be based on forms of Knowledge which exist outside this world they do not exist in real
world.” Aristotle argued that they exist in real world. For example Doctrine of mean,

Aristotle philosophy
• is based up on teachings of Plato and Socrates, but at same time he had differences with
them. It was Aristotle who gave more elaborate explanation of

◦ Human nature. 2. Aim of Human life. 3. How human should live.

• Therefore virtue ethics is famous for Aristotle.

Human Nature

• Aristotle consider Human as a +being. Mean having +ve nature of being purposive. Human
is social, political and ethical animal. Political mean Human has political aspiration of
 Freedom, L,Eq representativeness have a say or voice in decision making. That’s why there
is evolution of system of politics and governance.

• Social Animal

◦ Human has tendency to form social groups, soical relations, society etc. Human can not
live all alone.

• Ethical Animal

◦ Human has tendency to logic reason accept reject and persue life which he thinks good.
That’s why ethics is born. This human nature was further explained by Kant where is
says human has tendency to do good and avoid an evil.

Aim of Human life.

• Happiness is aim. Happiness here is related with achieving wisdom that is enlightenment of
mind. Since he talks of happiness as aim it is similar to utilitarian philosophy which aim
seeking pleasure and avoid pain. So it is also called as hedonist philosophy which is based
on act of seeking pleasure. This behaviour is consider sub standard and irrational. Hence
hedonist approach was early approach of seeking bodily pleasure -- “eat drink make merry.”

How human should live.

• Human should live on basis of growing and development of 5 senses. When these 5 senses
grow then it becomes wisdom which is high level of development which is 6 th sense. Human
should grow 5 senses by reasoning and rationality. Following doctrine of Mean – Golden
rule.

• Doctrine of Mean

◦ neither excess or deficiency in human behaviour.

◦ Courage is mean b/w coward and recklessness/foolhardiness.

• On the basis of this doctrine he gave principles of ethics as

◦ 1. Courage. 2. temperance, 3. Justice 4. Wisdom.

◦ Temperence means judiciousness in behaviour which comes by emotional intelligence.

Temperance indicate emotional balance. Aristotle remarked anyone can become angry at
anyone at anyone but to become angry to the right person at right time in right
proportion will be only by few. Greek philosophy talks of role of emotional intelligence.
The concept of emotional intelligence emerged only during in 1990s.
 • According to him those who follow these 4 principles they will be virtuous people ie wwith
good character.

Application of Greek philosophy:

• Individual level

◦ They teach how individual should become rational being by CT and individual should
aim for highest happiness ie knowledge and understanding. They should have
moderation in behaviour. Today we find that if category of individual are rational or try
to be one then other category are stereotype, prejudiced, superstitious, irrational, hostile
and violent in behaviour. Protest, murder, killing, mob lynch. (Journalists Rationalists
were murder – Gauri Lankesh, Jagendra Singh burned alive).

• At society level,

◦ since society is made of individual, individual behaviour influence society. They did not
talk of social ethics or social norms. Their philosophy applies to social , that people
should not accept anything in society on the basis of reasoning and rationality. They talk
of ethics of common good. People should act in such fashion that it is in the common
interest and promote common good of society.

• Aristotle says that “Equals should be treated Equally and unequal should be treated
unequally.” Comment.

◦ Article 14B Justice-- tax, reservation etc, positive discrimination Asen.

◦ Rule of Law and punishment not depends on person committed but on crime.

◦ In present context this principle it has difficulty in identify who are equal and some
situation demand equal treatment to all irrespective of person.

◦ This principle is followed for common good of society.

• At government level
◦ Be it government or CS or Bureaucracy virtue ethics is relevant. CS should have courage
to with stand corruption any such challenge such or act of whistle blowing is linked with
courage.
◦ Temperance need emotional intelligence to tackle stress strain daily.
◦ Virtue ethics has emphased on Human character that is relevant for all. It human
character that differentiate all. People who have highest lvel of character stand tall and
consider virtuous people.
Weakness:
• Emphasis on quality of human not equality of action. It emphasis on end of human life and
but less emphasis on means.

Conclusion:

• They are founder of ethics. They belong to rational school emphasis on rationality and how
human should live and their principles are futher propagated by teleological philosophers.
They have similarity with many philosophers and leaders who emphased on rationality as
Kant, Indian philosophy as it also emphasis on end as salvation or liberation, Gita also
emphasis that main aim of life is not to achieve success but to achieve perfection in
controlling human senses. Indian philosophy views human from positive nature, MK Gandhi
emphasis on truth and courage. They are important for human conduct, democracy,
governance as they gave description on how state should be governed as Plato’s “Republic”
and Aristotle in “The politics”.

QN

• Disscuss difference values and ethics. And how they are relation with character.

• What is happiness and should it be main aim of human life.?

• Should people aim success in life? Pro and cons?

 Deontology – Immanuel Kant
• About? Deontology

• Kant?

• Application – individual, society, governance

• weakness and conclusion.

• Deontology – Means + science.

◦ Science of means / science of action. Not consequence.

• Deontology is a philosophy which focus on quality of human action in that we focus on

ethical human conduct. Ie dos and don’t of human action. What human should and should
not act. Based on following principles.

◦ Truthfulness. Non harmfulness, selflessness. Universality. Rationality.

• Kant is important thinker of this school. He has given his theory on basis of rationality.

Kantian philosophy
• He is rationalist thinker. He applied rationality in human thinking on bases of human
conscience and its rational application.

◦ (Conscience is about moral intellect, inner check, something about right or wrong, inner
voice)

• Basis of 2 principle.

◦ Act in such fashion that your action becomes end in itself. Rather than mean to achieve
end.

◦ Act in such a fashion that your action become ‘universal’. ie all the people in the same
situation will act in the same manner.

• Kant is against the means and ends in Human action or cost and benefit. He rejected the
judge he HA on basis of ends. He is also critique to utilitarian philosophy. His philosophy 1 st
principle is that human action should be based on selflessness, rather than any benefit
deriving form action. Being selflessness is a moral deed. He also give reason why human
should be selfless it is moral demand or command form human conscience. He treats human
as +ve nature.
 ◦ Ex people in many situation do act as selflessness as moral as adherence to truth
withstanding right values, taking risk in life even if there is serious consequence,
gratitude and charity. For right end people can resort to any means and he went on
criticise utilitarian will justify corruption as corruption as it grease the wheels of
system.

• Gandhi “Right means give right ends. Planting baboon seeds not give rose”

• /*************************************************/

• “Punjab Khalisthan movement Rajeev Gandhi do what ever but put to end”

• Perceived Injustice __ deprivation _ SC Dalits etc

• Exam lo copying – Student is intelligent but could not study ?? __ long term – culture Bihar
mass copying. Real estate __ Black money __ jobs justification demand decline. Corruption
for your comfort but long term u are also victim.

• /************************************************//

• corruption is a universal phenomenon remarked by Indira Gandhi, corruption is

omnipresent. People spport corruption for good result/outcome.

◦ Ex for market profit is most important objective which given rise to crony capitalism. In
Government offices bribe is culture which keeps moving files. Black money in
developing countries generates demand in economy. Government bring policy but not
enforced so they are considered as ‘soft state’ given by Gunnar Myrdal. This weak
enforcement is to bring good outcome.

• Kant 1st principle has relevant to make society better that it explains not only individuals
but also organisations and society that if end is given importance means can be
compromised hence behaviour become unethical.

• 2nd principle is that the action should be universal. A human should act in such fashion that
all other people will also act in same way in same situation. When people act they must
think rationally, whether their action will be universal.

◦ Ex if a person in examination copy due to certain circumstance so that he ro she can get
good result as he was not able to study due to family problems such as death, should he
be allowed to copy as it will not be noticed by invigilator. One should think that whether
in same situation will others will act in the same way i.e will all peopl copy if they face
same situation? Not necessarily.. the ethical issue in act of copying are:
 1. loss of mert

2. those who do hard work. Their work won’t be recognised.

3. It can establish wrong precedent that in difficult circumstance values should be

compromised.

4. Ppl should follow vales only when they are noticed.

• Kant is trying to say that irrespective of circumstances human should act selflessly with out
a purpose.

Why human should follow Kant principle.?

• Because of categorical imperative. It is moral obligation on human to act selflessly.

NOTE:

• Should values be followed in normal circumstance?

• In an abnormal circumstance should values be compromised?

• If it should compromised then how it would be justified in conflicting circumstance and

similar circumstance?

• Humans should not act only in normal circumstance by adherence to values but also in
difficult circumstances i.e exemplary behaviour. Even there is war ethics, even during time
of war both parties should follow some ethical standard.

Application of Kant

Individual :

• since he emphasis on human conscience, categorical imperative, rationality which should

become basis of human behaviour. Individual should have rational thinking and follow 2
principles of Kant. Then society can get rid of greediness, which is basis of many problems.
Most problems are due to individual behaviour like corruption, social evils. If individual act
Kantian way many problem can end.

◦ Ex People can motivate others to bring change in society but why not they change 1 st
change.

◦ Dowry or inter caste marriage.

• Best way to fight against corruption is one should not become corrupt which is minimum
level of expectation.
Societal Level:

• Kant has not talked much but his two principle indicate that he gives preference to universal
values over societal norms and culture. Preference to ethical absolutism over moral
relativism. Preference to universal values over social values. Collective conscience of
society should be universal.

What is Ethical Absolutism?

• Wishing new year, mothers day,Universal HR fathers day etc (E.A) Vs Ugadi, (Moral
relativism), FR of constitution.

Governance level:

• for government the 2 principles are essential. Due to selflessness, objectivity, ethics in
governance. Govt has principle of uniformity of treatment to all which is similar to universal
principle. Some of right are enjoyed by humans and citizen, administration should not
discriminate. Universal declaration of Human rights which is similar to ethical absolutism of
Kant.

• Government should not act in mean and ends relation but selflessly. Ex if a person has
committed offence he must be arrested as per law, govt should not give excuse that his arrest
will creat law and order problem.

• Judiciary do not give judgement seeing the consequence, (wrong consequence) in terms of
law and order, loss of business, it give judgement which is end in it self which is universal.
According to 1975 judgement, Indira Gandhi Candidature was cancled, judiciary can give
judgement thinking of consequence if not it cant give justice.

Criticism:

• Human has purpose or aim in life. It is difficult to not have a purpose. It is not wrong too.
Ex if person wants to become IAS(ends) its not wrong for that he will do hard work(means).
There will be means and ends relation. Ex Speaking Truth (means) to become good
human( ends).

• Ends __1)immediate goal (means of 2 and ends of 0.0)

• 2)intermediate goal (means of 3 and ends of 1)

• 3)ultimate goal (ends of 2).

• Human action can also be categorised as means and ends as he has many actions. So
preceding actions are means and succeeding action are ends. All religions talk about means
 and ends. Gandhi talks of Means and Ends. Without ends people will face directionlessness.
Kalam talks that “The world needs all you can give. Don't aim for success if you want it;
just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. You're never too old to start
learning, and you're never too young to aim high and achieve great things (ends).” saying
that action is end in it self becomes difficult and having no end is possible. It does not mean
that we can follow any means.

1. Ethical absolutism is not always possible in HA. HA cant be always universal action. He
may not have knowledge and it may differ person due to moral relativism, cultural diversity,
situation may demand for social ethics instead of constitutional morality.

2. Concept of categorical imperative ie moral command why human must act universally is
criticised due to subjectivity as conscience is difficult to prove its existence.

Relevance of Kant

• Now 3 c (consumerism, commodification and commercialisation). Even if concept he can be

criticised. His concept is considered lofty because he set high moral standards. Adherence to
them will help in elimination of social and cultural difference creating problems.
Superstition, different beielf which propagate discrimination. Can used in globalisation for
development of global culture. His philosophy is used to develop individual character based
on knowledge, selfless, universal establish principles. Many leaders become leader of world
not because of culture. Today we have crisis of leader who have universal acceptance.
Present sociaty ki help which problematic 3C. Which is driven my money lack of peace of
mind. Conscience will not have moral guilty(dissonance) if followed Kantian principles.
 Teleology/ Utilitarian Philosophy
•
• Teleo end + logy mean science. __ consequence.

• Benthama and JS Mill.

• If end/ consequence is good then means or Human Action (HA) is good

• Utilitarian __ maximise ones own utility profit gain etc.

◦ Why ? __ maximise self interest + maximise pleasure and min pain. + good outcome.

//////////********************//////

• utilitarian = good outcome then action is ethical. Principles of utilitarian:

◦ individual behaviour is based on self interest.

◦ Aim of self interest is max pleasure and min pain ( please pain relation PP).

◦ Individual must enjoy freedom, L, Eq.

◦ When there are conflicting interest then “ greatest good to greatest number of people”.

Self Interest :

• Self interest is related to things which bring more pleasure and less pain. Cost < benefit then
action serves self interest. All humans act in self interest. Self interest based HA will bring
good outcome or consequence is calculated in terms of pleasure and happiness. If a person
does any action which brings pleasure then it is considered ethical. Ex eating drinking,
marriage etc.

• Principles of L, Eq Freedom are implicit in the action based self interest. So Bentham ad
Mill belong to liberal school of thought in politics and economics. Individual can not attain
their self interest if they can not enjoy L, Eq etc.

Western parents Indian Parents

Independent decisions(L,Eq) on marriage etc __ encouraging. As Emotional blackmail.
liberal ppl can take decision on his own self interest.
Take risk, start ups etc. Job seekers, pre 1991
Individual __Veganism is based on self interest Collective _ caste based
vegetarianism
More depression lonely
• Capitalism, industrialism __ less state intervention.

• If an individual takes decision and it has good outcome it is considered ethical. It means phil
is opposite to Kant. It creates means and ends relation. It de-emphasis mean and emphasis
on ends. If man drinks for pleasure it is ethical HA. So it says that individual should act as
per peleasure and respecting others. That’s why western soc is liberal. It principle of G good
to G number (GGGN). It most famous phill of utilitarian which is applied in conflicting
situation. In given situation action should bring G happiness to G no.of People. Ex 5 person
enjoy act of drinks but 1 suffer from 5 person action then that one person would be ignored.
In society HA should lead to G benefit to G number. In a difficult circumstance if a person is
to be killed to save 5 person lives then he should be killed GG G number opposite to Kant.
So Government action should benefit to all. Bentham and Mill have differences.

• Bentham __ Ethical Egoism – good individual = good for society. __ maximise self interest.

• Mill __ ethical Altruism __ good society = good for individual GGGN. Individual take
societal interest in to context.

• “Man organs harvested to save 5 members??”